Studying social work helps you understand the support society's most vulnerable individuals and groups need to ensure their welfare.

Learning how to practise as a qualified social worker, you'll explore the critical issues that affect people's wellbeing, learn how to safeguard their interests, and promote greater independence.

It's challenging but rewarding work, and you'll be taking an active role in addressing pressing social problems.

Why UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Social work at UWE Bristol offers the grounding you need to become a skilled social worker with the professional skills, knowledge base and placement experience that will help you stand out.

Learn to work with service users, carers and other professionals to enhance wellbeing. Gain the critical understanding, experience and skills to make informed judgements in complex situations. Explore contemporary issues in social work.

You'll be taught by experienced and enthusiastic staff, most of whom are registered social workers.

Get a direct route into practice with 170 days on placement through our links with a variety of partner agencies. Gain exposure to a variety of social work roles in statutory, voluntary, private and independent organisations.

The relationships you build with your placement providers, along with your professional qualification, will greatly improve your employability.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Yearone

You will study:

Skills for Relationship-Based Practice

Perspectives on the Life Course

Social Policy and Law for Social Work

Developing Professional Social Work Practice.

Year two

You will study:

Theory and Research for Social Work Practice

Engagement, Empowerment and Intervention

Law and Knowledge for Social Work

Service Improvement: A Collaborative Approach

Reflective Practice in Social Work.

Final year

You will study:

Protection and Risk in Social Work

Critical Reflective Practice in Social Work 1

Critical Reflective Practice in Social Work 2

Dissertation.

Plus one optional module from:

Social Work with Adults at Risk

Social Work with Children and Young People

Working to Strengthen Communities.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

Learning and Teaching

Explore the psychological and sociological theories for understanding individuals, families, groups and communities.

Understand law, policy and communities, and how the legal, social and organisational context shapes what social workers do.

Develop your understanding of how research can inform your practice.

Explore best practice, including how to think critically and creatively in complex situations, and how different professions can work together to provide better services.

In line with national reforms to social work practice and education, we focus on current issues of particular concern such as mental health, domestic violence, drug and alcohol use, and work with asylum seekers and refugees.

Our staff have extensive practice, research and teaching experience in health and social care.

We also have strong international links with universities and colleges in Germany, Italy, Norway, Finland and Greece.

As part of a European network linking 25 countries, we're working to develop understanding of the social work profession across international boundaries.

Reflecting on your own and other's experiences will be a key part of helping you develop as a well-rounded and skilled social worker.

Percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities, each year:

Year

Scheduled learning and teaching study

Independent study

Placement study

% check

1

29%

68%

3%

100%

2

19%

49%

32%

100%

3

15%

60%

25%

100%

Online learning

Online resources are an integral part of what the university offers. As a minimum reading materials and lecture notes are available online, and most modules will require you to use Information Technology (IT) to help you research, undertake and present your work.

IT facilities are available on all campuses and at the main Frenchay Campus there is 24 hour access to computing facilities.

Assessment

We'll assess you using a mix of written assignments, assessments in controlled conditions, presentations and evidence of competence in practice. We may use reflective diaries and progress files.

Professional accreditation

Placements

Students who go on work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.

You'll spend 170 days of the course on placements: 70 days in year two and 100 days in year three. You'll also shadow social workers in year one.

We work closely with placement partner agencies to ensure you experience a wide range of issues in statutory, voluntary, private and independent organisations.

You'll be supported on your placements by a practice educator and university placement tutor, with university teaching running in parallel to help you apply law, policy, skills and theory in practice settings.

You'll also get help to find placements and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.

Study facilities

The Glenside campus library is one of the best health and social care libraries in the country with a huge selection of books, journals, audio-visual materials and specialist health and social care software to support your studies.

We have computer facilities at all campuses and a wide range of software packages to support your studies.

You can access reading materials and lecture notes online, and we'll help you find the resources you need to research, undertake and present your work.

Part Time Course

Supplementary fee information

You may be eligible for a social work bursary in years 2 and 3 of the course. Information on other funding for this course is available on the full-time studentfunding pages.

Please note that there are no bursary payments to students in the first year of their course.

Social Work Bursary

In recent years social work students have been eligible to apply for a bursary in their second and third year. The bursary has only been available to students from England and applicants from Wales should note that the bursary paid by the Welsh Assembly is paid only to Welsh students who study in Wales.

Additional costs

Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Typical offers

Tariff points: 120

GCSE: For all applicants, a minimum of five subjects at grade C/4 or above to include English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. Please note the University does not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as suitable alternatives to GCSEs.

English Language Requirement:

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet communicating and comprehension skills to International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) at Level 7.

A-level subjects: Sociology, Psychology, Law or Social Science subjects preferred. Points from A-Level General Studies and AS-Level subjects (not taken on to full A-Level) can be included towards overall tariff. You must have a minimum of two A-Levels.

EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; to include 30 level 3 credits at merit.

Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

Please note we do not accept deferred entry applications for this course.

We recognise the individual nature of each application and our typical offer should be viewed as a guide. UWE Bristol welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. Please include details of any relevant experience in your application. However, you still need to meet the GCSE English and Maths requirements, and should have evidence of recent study in a science/health-related subject area recognised as equivalent academic level by the University.

Applicants who have obtained recognised qualifications at higher education level may be able to claim credit against modules in the course.

Applicants must have some knowledge and direct experience of working in social work or social care.

We frequently accept the completion of further or adult education courses as an appropriate entry qualification. Completing an Access or Foundation course may be a good move for people who have been away from formal education for a number of years.

Additional Selection Criteria

As well as meeting the academic entry requirements, applicants should meet the following selection criteria:

Health assessment/declaration/vaccinations. If offered a place you will be asked to complete an Occupational Health questionnaire and attend any subsequent medical assessment if required. Social Work students will be offered relevant vaccinations prior to undertaking placements. You will be required to provide an annual self declaration confirming you meet the regulatory body requirements of good health.

Disclosure of criminal background

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply and all convictions, including those which are spent, must be disclosed. This is in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Applicants who are offered a place must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and will be required to complete a Disclosure Application Form. All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary.

Completing the application form

We will be looking for applicants who show that they understand and have a clear commitment to a career in Social Work. Your personal statement should include:

why you want to study Social Work,

details of any direct experience working in social work or social care,

what you want to achieve in social work practice,

what knowledge and skills you think you can bring to the course.

It will enhance your application to include details of your direct experience, for example on placement, work experience, voluntary or paid work, to include total hours worked, and your roles and responsibilities in different settings.

Selection Event

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview and will also be required to complete a written test. The interview will be conducted by a member of academic staff and either a social work practitioner, or a service user or carer who works with the course.

UWE Bristol's International College

If you are an international student and do not meet the academic or English language requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

English language support

If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.

If you have not received your exam results, your offer from UWE Bristol will be conditional and will be subject to you achieving the tariff points/grades required for your course.

If you have already satisfied the academic entry requirements of your chosen course, you are likely to be made an unconditional offer. Please note that UWE Bristol will only make unconditional offers if you have already achieved your qualifications.

To make sure our applicants are academically prepared for when they start their studies at UWE Bristol, we do not make unconditional offers to those that are still studying their Level 3 qualifications (such as A-levels, BTEC, Access or equivalent). We hope that this will encourage our applicants to value their academic achievements as much as we do.

How to apply

UCAS Application Deadline: The initial deadline for UCAS applications is 15th January each year. It is likely we will still consider applications submitted after this date but it may not always be possible for our most selective courses.

UCAS Extra: We welcome applications through UCAS Extra for this course between 25 February and 4 July 2019. We aim to give you a response to your application within 21 days.